How to Remove Pressed Chair Cane Webbing Spline

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By WickerWoman
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Removing Rattan Reed Chair Cane Spline

Removing the rattan reed spline in a machine woven cane or a cane webbing chair seat can sometimes be the hardest part of this recaning process!

Sometimes you'll get really lucky and the glue the previous caner used will release the spline easily, but more often than not, removing the spline that holds in the cane webbing will take a great deal of your time and patience!

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

special caning chisels in various widths--1/8" & 1/4" (available from cane & basket supply companies)
utility knife
hammer
sand paper
rasp, or file (I prefer the Stanley Sure-Form Shaver)

Step 1

One of the first things that needs to be done in repairing or recaning a cane seat that has cane webbing, is to remove the old webbing from the chair seat.

Cane webbing is held in place by glue and a thin strip of wood-like material called rattan reed "spline." Sometimes this first step of removing the spline can be the most difficult of all the steps.
Step 2

Score around outside edge of spline.

Using a utility knife or box cutter, score completely around the outside edge of the spline, where it meets the wooden seat frame. This is done to loosen and break the spline from the glue and any applied finish.
Step 3

Cut out damaged cane webbing from center of seat.

Cut out and discard the cane webbing from the large center seat hole using a utility knife or scissors.
Step 4

Using your utility knife, score the inside edge of groove to loosen finish and to remove excess old cane from groove. You might also like to use a 3/4" flat-blade chisel here between the crack at the inner side of the groove and the spline.
Step 5

Remove spline with spline removal chisels and a hammer.

Using a special beveled spline cane removal chisel (chosen to fit the width of the groove), and a hammer, begin removing spline from groove.

You can start anywhere on the spline, but sometimes where the ends meet at the top or center back of the chair seat is a good place to start. Sometimes the spline will pop out in one piece, but most often it will come out in very small chunks or lengths. Patience, grasshopper!
Step 6

Clean groove completely of all cane and glue.

Clean the groove completely of all cane webbing remnants and glue using the chisels, utility knife and sandpaper, too. Be sure to remove all the old glue, because new glue won't stick to old glue.

Then bevel or round off inside edge of seat opening using the rasp, file or Stanley Sure-Shaver, so it doesn't cut the new cane webbing when you install it.
Step 7

Sand inside edge of the cleaned groove so it's nice and smooth too, and won't cut the new cane when it's applied. Brush, blow or vacuum out any remaining sawdust, tiny cane pieces or glue chips from the groove. Now you're ready for my next article, "How-to Install Pressed Chair Cane Webbing." Congrats on a job well done!

Comments

thesquirrelymom said

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on 11/25/2008 Great information on how to restore cane chairs.

BenderMiller said

on 9/10/2008 Good evening! Thanks for all the info on your blog.
I do have a question for you.
What is the best way to stain web cane? I usually just tell people that I don't do it or else I tell them that the out come will be very unpredictable.
But I am doing a chair for a funeral home and they would really like it to match the ramaining chairs in their parlor. ANy suggestions?

thanks for your help.

Rachel